Garmon 2017 Release Offer
Garmon 2017, we actually managed to get the stock into the country a few weeks ago, but I have been preoccupied with chasing 2020 Bordeaux samples and it got slightly neglected. And now Bordeaux can wait its turn, ‘cos. Garmon is worth it …
As mentioned in last 2 vintage releases for Garmon, it is fast getting serious recognition as one of the leading wines in Ribera del Duero. One does not often see this many critics reviewing a new winery and consistently awarding mid 90’s scores.
The vintage was characterised by significantly reduced crop and early harvest (mainly due to spring frost and dry summer), so the style is very different to the immensely powerful, late harvested 2016 released last year. 2017 is spicy and aromatic from the off, and at this stage of development one really needs to look out for the concentration that is hiding in the background. I opened the bottle at noon, and it was not until about 8pm that soft late summer juicy fruit started to emerge. The wine shines out of the glass, deep and dark purple. Nose initially hits with concentrated, spicy cedar wood, Mediterranean spices and black forest fruit. One would expect it to be a bit of a “rough and tumble” on the palate, but there is none of that. Thanks to the very high altitude of the vineyards where the fruit comes from (4 villages at around 1000 m high), the palate is quite fresh and uplifting with fine, highly polished tannins. A very complete wine, even if not the classic powerhouse we expect from the top end Ribera. This will drink well from Autumn 2022 for some 5- 10 years or, even now as long as you are patient enough to decant it some 6-12 hours in advance. Great little spicy, uplifting number.
Those of you with investment in mind should keep an eye on Garmon. This is only the 4th vintage released, and the cheapest one can buy any vintage right now is £180 per 6 bott. Production is limited – 5,000 cases in 2017 and it will stay limited as the winery was designed to have maximum capacity of about 7,000 cases. For comparison, Ch. Latour has average production of over 16,000 and Ch. Angelus is at around 10,000. It is food friendly, friends friendly, critics like it, sommeliers like it, the only way is up. Think of Ornellaia about 10 years ago.
All the best ,
Zoran